Prophet's Impact & Sahabah's Role in Islam

• The chapter discusses the virtues, role, and importance of the Sahabah (companions) of the Prophet in Islam.

The Sahabah in the Qur'an

• The Qur'an praises their soft hearts, receptive to the Qur'an.
• The Sahabah completely trusted Allah and obeyed His and His Messenger's commands, thus achieving success.
• They fulfilled their purpose of worshipping Allah.
• Allah declared He was pleased with them.
• The Sahabah encouraged one another to do good and avoid wrong.
• Allah filled their hearts with īmān and made disbelief, sin, and disobedience unappealing to them.
• The Qur'an gives all the Sahabah the glad tidings of being "rightly-guided".
• The Qur'an also praises their sincerity, selflessness, mutual love and mercy, firmness of faith, taqwā, love of worship, patience, and cleanliness, among other qualities.
• These qualities made them the best believers after the Prophets.

Significance of the Sahabah

• The Sahabah preserved Islam and played a key role in spreading its message worldwide.
• The Prophet's teachings greatly impacted them, making their hearts pure and full of wisdom.
• The Prophet transformed their beliefs and actions and trained them to be leaders and authorities on the Qur'an.
• The Prophet sent Mu'adh ibn Jabal to lead the people of Yemen and honored Ubayy ibn Ka'b as the main scribe of wahy.
• The Prophet advised taking knowledge of the Qur'an from 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud; Salim, the freed slave of Abū Hudhayfah; Mu'adh ibn Jabal; and Ubayy ibn Ka'b.
• Many Sahabah became leading figures of knowledge after the Prophet's passing, such as 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbās and 'A'ishah
• For Muslims, the Sahabah are central to understanding Islam and are examples to follow

Competition in Good Deeds

• The poor Muhajirin complained to the Prophet that wealthy companions had attained higher ranks due to their ability to spend in charity and free slaves.
• The Prophet advised them to recite tasbih, tahmīd, and takbīr 33 times after every salat.
• When the wealthy companions started doing the same, the Prophet responded with, "That is Allah's Grace, which He grants to whom He wishes".

Loving and Following the Sahabah

• All companions deserve love, respect, and honor.
• They are guiding stars for Muslims and are central to understanding the Qur'an and Sunnah.
• Abusing the companions is forbidden, and even spending a Mount Uhud's worth of gold would not equal a handful spent by them.
• The Qur'an encourages remembering them in du'a's, asking for forgiveness for oneself and the believing brothers before.
• While faith, knowledge, and religious practice are the primary focus, one can take inspiration from their character, skills, and talents.
• Salamah ibn al-Akwa's speed was used to help the early Muslim community.
• Hassan ibn Thabit used his poetry to defend the Prophet and spread the message of Islam.
• Uthman ibn Affan used business success to support the Muslim community and the poor.
• Some Sahabah passed away in faraway lands and are buried in various countries.
• Abu Ayyub al-Ansari is buried in Eyupsultan, Istanbul, Turkey.
• Umm Haram bint Milhan is buried in Cyprus, as is Qutham ibn al-'Abbās.

Significant Companions

• This section provides profiles of prominent Sahabah.

Salman al-Farisī

• Originally from Ramhormoz, Persia, born into a wealthy Zoroastrian family in Isfahan.
• An inspirational figure committed to seeking the truth.
• The Prophet admired this quality, stating that even if faith were at Thurayya, men from among the Persians would attain it.
• He initially became a Christian, then searched for the final Messenger.
• A teacher taught three signs to recognize the true Prophet: not eating from sadaqah, eating from hadiyyah, and having the khatam al-nubuwwah between his shoulder blades.
• He recognized the signs and became Muslim, later called "the man of both scriptures".
• Suggested the trench defense before the Battle of Khandaq, which was implemented after the Prophet approved.
• Passed away around the year 35 AH.

'Abdullah ibn Salām

• Born al-Husayn ibn Salām, a descendant of Prophet Yūsuf, became a knowledgeable rabbi in Madinah.
• Recognized Muhammad as the final Prophet by the Tawrah.
• Stated, "I knew this was not the face of a liar" upon seeing the Prophet.
• Answered questions that only a prophet could answer, and became Muslim.
• The Prophet changed his name to 'Abdullah and included him among the Anşar.
• He was an expert in the Tawrah and the Qur'an.
• The Prophet said He is one of ten in Jannah, and piety was visible on his face.
• He passed away in the year 43 A.H.

Asma bint Abī Bakr

• Was among the first to accept Islam, from a family of important Sahabah
• Daughter of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq., sister of 'A'ishah and wife of Zubayr ibn al-'Awwām.
• She helped the Prophet during the Hijrah, tearing a cloth into two waistbands to tie food and water and earned the nickname "the one with two waistbands" (Dhāt al-Nițāqayn).
• She migrated to Madinah while pregnant.
• She was courageous, confident, sincere, and accepted Islām.
• Died at 100 years old, with strong memory, in the year 73 AH.

Umm Harām bint Milhān

• Sister of Umm Sulaym, maternal aunt of Anas, and wife of 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit.
• The Prophet shared his dream of warriors sailing in the sea like kings on thrones.
• She asked the Prophet to make du'a' for her to be among them, which he did.
• During the khilafah of 'Uthman, she was part of the Muslim army that crossed the sea towards Cyprus.
• Died as a martyr in 27 AH in Cyprus, after her animal tripped and fell.

Explore the Prophet's pivotal role and the contributions of the Sahabah (Companions) in Islam's transformation. Understand their significance, approach to societal change, and preservation of Islamic teachings. Discover the essence of submission and the importance of studying their lives.